Firing mechanism for gun perforating



Feb. 6, 1951 f 0, T BROYLES 2,540,184

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUN PERFORATING Filed May 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0775' Ti @EGE/ES INVENTOR.

Atto rneys.

Fell 6 1951 o. T. BRoYLEs 2,540,184

FIRING MECHANISM FOR GUN PERFORATING Filed May 12, 1945 Sheets-Sheet 2 A.. y l2 l 5o 1 if 5/ 2-:rsh .5; 'Z

T- JL 7- 6 l: i g k5 3l as' 4s 37 as .a4

al I

I 54 rf 1g. 6 63.

$7 El ons 1; anos/Es INVENTOR.

$8 fuuv Attorneys.

satented Feb. 6, 1951 FIRING MECHANISM Fon GUN PERFORATING Otis T. Broyles, Houston, Tex.

Application May 12, 1945, Serial No. 593,445

Claims. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gun perforators adapted to be lowered within a well bore, and controllably actuated to perfor-ate casings set within the bore.

Gun perforators must be of rugged construction to withstand extreme pressures at depths where used within wells, and also to withstand the reaction incident to perforating operations. At the same time such devices must be readily controllable and positive in action so that perforating will take place with a. high degree of certainty, and premature explosions which endanger both life and property will be avoided. It is also important that the construction and operation of a perforatorbe as simple as possible to minimize cost and upkeep, and also to enhance the ruggedness that is necessary for satisfactory and safe operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved gun perforator that is simple and inexpensive to construct and maintain, and also that is positive in operation whereby the hazards incident to its use are minimized.

Another object is to provide a gun perforator in which an electric current is utilized to re the explosive charges, but in which the electrical n may be rapidly operated so that shooting time is minimized.

Still another object is to provide a perforator in which a stationary contact is provided for each gunassembly mounted within the body of the device.

The invention contemplates the use of a traveling contactor to successively engage the stationary contacts to close an electric circuit and thereby set oil' the respective charges.

Another object is to provide a mechanism whereby the traveling contactor is operable to repeatedly traverse its path to engage the stationary contacts.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a gun perforator having a longitudinal passage in which the traveling contactor moves, and means within the gun for moving the contactor within such passage.

The foregoing together with other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a. vertical sectional view through one embodiment of the invention, such view being taken on line I-I in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, the upper and lower portions thereof being taken respectively through a gun assembly and a contactor assembly of the device;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but illustrating an alternative embodiment of the actuating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing structural details of the alternate embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the view being taken respectively through a gun assembly and the contactor assembly of such embodiment.

The embodiment shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings comprises a housing I within which is located a power or driving unit 2 operably connected through gears 3 to a spindle 4 within the passage 5 which extends longitudinally of the body 6 and at one side of the axis of the body as best seen in Fig. 3. The body 6 is threadedly con. nected to the housing I at 1, and the bore 5 therein extends throughout the length of the body, and is closed at its lower end by plug 8. It is contemplated that the bodyv 6 shall be of any desired length and that the device will operate with equal facility whether the body be short or long, and whether few or numerous shots are to be red from within the body is a manner that will more fully appear.

The motor 2 is mounted upon a bracket I0 within the housing I, and is supplied with electrical energy through a plurality of conductors or through a single conductor II and a grounded conductor I2 when the body is used as a returnline. The armature shaft I3 is attached to pinion I4 meshing with gear I5 fixed upon the upper end of the spindle 4. This spindle is journaled in an insulating bushing I6 at the upper end of the passage 5, and is similarly journaled at its lower end in an insulating bushing I1 fitted within a recess in the inner end of the plug 8.

The spindle 4 comprises an element of an electric circuit which includes the conductor 20, interconnecting conductor II, and the contact 2l mounted upon bracket 22 to engage the upper being automatically reversible on said spindle, as said energizing means reaches the end oi travel along the spindle, to re-energize such of said firing devices which have not been tired. y

2. A gun perforator'comprising a body, a plurality of radially and longitudinally displaced gun barrels therein, an electric firing device in said body for each of said barrels. a motor, a spindle connected thereto for movement thereby, and means operable by said spindle to energize said devices in sequence, said spindle having reversing threads thereon, and means on said first mentioned means for engagement with said threads whereby said rst means is movable repeatedly Aalong the spindle by unidirectional rotation f thereof.

3. A gun perforator comprising a. body, a plu-V rality of radially and longitudinally displaced gun `barrels therein, an electric ring device in said body for each of said barrels, a, motor, a spindle connected thereto for movement thereby, and means operable by said spindle to energize said devices in sequence, said spindle and means having a stepped ratchet engagement.

4. A gun perforator comprising a body, a plurality of radially and longitudinally displaced gun barrels therein, an electric iiring device in said body for ,eacn of said barrels, a'motor, a spindle connected thereto for movementv thereby, and means operable by said lspindle to energize said devices in sequence, said spindle and means having a stepped'ratchet engagement which is reversible to reenergize each tiring device which has not been ilred.

5. A gun perforator including, a body, a plurality of radially and longitudinally displaced gun assemblies therein, a-bore in said body, `a, contactor mounted to move axially of the bore, contacts electrically connected to said assemblies each having a terminal engageable by said contactor, means f or driving said contactor within the bore, and means automatically operable by a spindle at the ends of travel of said rst means to reverse the direction of movement of the contactor within the bore.

OTIS T. BROYLES.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesv are of record in the le of thispatent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,125,487 Church Aug. 2, 1938 2,296,318 Thompson Sept. 22, 1942 v2,317,238 Mennecier 1- Apr. 20,'1943 

